Vanuatu - any recommendations?
 

Considering Vanuatu as a place for a break. We're not looking for luxury, resorts or loud nightlife. Like a degree of comfort, the chance to meet and mix with another culture, snorkelling and perhaps some other water sports (sea kayaking, sailing etc) and excursions. I was thinking of one of the places on Espirito Santo. Has anyone any suggestions?

Can anyone help?

I've visited Vanuatu a few years ago and I was there for deep sea fishing. We started from Port Villa and went all the way north to Pentacost(spl?). Beaches where OK(they had some black sand beaches), not great and the water clarity was not that clear. Lots of inshore fish and some scenic islands to be seen. <BR><BR>Try searching the web for a company call Ocean Blue, they charter boats for fishing and you can probably get some information about the country and things to do.

I lived in Vanuatu for 2 years, down south on Tanna. If you head up towards Santo you can go to Champagne Beach and snorkel around there. If you dive, you can dive the Coolidge, an American WWII ship that sunk just off the coast. If you go, stay at the Bouganville Resort. I think it's just a little north of Santo. In Santo you can stay at the Hotel Santo, and there is also the Bokissa Island Resort. For more info on those places, or for the other islands, go to vanuatutourism.com. You can also contact me directly if you want. You will have a great time, it is truly an untouched paradise.

Even if you don't get to Santo, you can do all the things you mention around Port Vila - snorkel Hideaway Island for the variety of fish and the world's only underwater post office. Stay somewhere like Pacific Lagoon Apartments (self-contained 2 br on Erakor Lagoon with kayaks) or Tradewinds (also self-contained with pool). Self contained saves on restaurants (although you should try some of these!) and gets you into the shops/markets to see how locals live. I also lived there for 3 years, returning earlier this year - fee free to email... I'm sure you'll love the place!

Ian,
FYI this quesion you have answered was actually posted in 2002 - so if somewhat out of date.